• G Isaac Seumalo: The Rams need help along their offensive line heading into 2023, and Seumalo has experience at both guard spots and could make a big impact.
• C Ethan Pocic: The Chicago Bears should make a play for the top free-agent center available in Pocic.
• G Nate Davis: The Arizona Cardinals have a ton of pending free agents along their offensive line, so bringing in a quality young player in Nate Davis could go a long way.
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins
G ISAAC SEUMALO
2023 team prediction: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams' offensive line took a huge step back in 2022, partly due to injuries but also because of the Andrew Whitworth and Austin Corbett departures in the offseason. Seumalo comes from the Eagles, who were one of the best zone running teams in the league. Rams head coach Sean McVay’s run scheme is primarily zone runs, so Seumalo would fit in well. Durability is a bit of a concern for Seumalo, but the Rams' sports science and medical staff is one of the best in the league. He would help to bolster the interior of that offensive line for 2023.
G BEN POWERS
2023 team prediction: Buffalo Bills
We suggested this pairing a month ago and just can’t quit the idea, with the Bills needing to address the left guard spot and Powers one of the top options available coming off a monster 2022 campaign. Buffalo can’t go too crazy with spending this offseason, so shoring up non-premium positions is likely their best path to improvement in 2023.
Powers allowed 12 quarterback pressures in 2022, one-third of the 36 surrendered by Bills 2022 left guard Rodger Saffold, with one penalty committed to Saffold’s 10. This would be a much-needed upgrade along the Buffalo interior.
G DALTON RISNER
2023 team prediction: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles could potentially lose Isaac Seumalo on the open market, and they would be wise to replace him with Risner, who could cost a bit less. Risner has been a consistently above-average blocker who excels in pass blocking, posting four straight years with a 69.5-plus pass-blocking grade. The Eagles' run scheme is also diverse, as they mix and match zone and gap runs well. The Broncos employed a similar run scheme under previous head coach Nathaniel Hackett, and Risner would likely be able to thrive at whatever guard position the Eagles need him to play.
G NATE DAVIS
2023 team prediction: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have four pending free-agent guards and made several attempts to address the right guard spot last offseason, including a trade for Cody Ford. The team eventually dealt with injuries to almost their entire interior offensive line unit in 2022. Davis is an ascending young player who, despite missing some time to close out the year with an ankle injury, has been fairly durable across his NFL career.
Davis earned a career-best 66.8 pass-blocking grade in the last season of his rookie contract, a huge jump from his previous high of 52.6. That was an important development to go along with his consistently solid run-blocking ability. From 2020 to 2022, Davis' 74.1 run-blocking grade ranks 14th among guards, as he routinely got to the second level in the Tennessee Titans‘ zone running scheme with good movement skills. If he can continue to improve in pass protection and round out his game, the former third-rounder could be a quality guard for the next several years.
C ETHAN POCIC
2023 team prediction: Chicago Bears
Chicago needs to upgrade at center, and pairing Pocic with quarterback Justin Fields for multiple seasons could make a lot of sense. Pocic excelled in a wide-zone scheme in Cleveland this past season, and Chicago has implemented a similar offense under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Pocic signed a one-year contract with the Browns after beginning his career with the Seattle Seahawks, faring much better under the tutelage of offensive line coaching savant Bill Callahan. Pocic's 79.2 overall, 71.5 pass-blocking and 79.2 run-blocking grades are all career highs, and it was great to see him able to return from a knee injury to close out the year.
Cleveland has two of the NFL's highest-paid guards in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, and the team extended right tackle Jack Conklin shortly before the end of the season, so it seems possible Pocic will reach the open market, where he'll be PFF's highest-rated available center by a decent margin.
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